Qatar can be found on the west coast of the Persian Gulf area. Blessed with large reserves of petroleum and natural gas, it is one of the richest countries in the world. With a GPD per capita income of $94,028, Qatar ranks fourth highest in the world. Largely urban, the population of 2.76 million individuals is multi-cultural: 88% are non-Qataris and 82% of the population lives in the capital city, Doha.
While the country is small, they’ve had a lot of froyo shops! TCBY was probably the first in Qatar, opening back in 1994. They’re still there! While TCBY was the first froyo shop that we found, it was the arrival of Pinkberry in 2010 that set off the froyo expansion boom. After Pinkberry opened in Qatar, a mix of international chains like Golden Spoon, Red Mango, Snog, Menchie’s, and Yogurtini, regional chains like the Frozen Yogurt Factory, and home-grown shops followed.
Most froyo shops in Qatar are counter-serve shops and can be found in shopping malls, mostly in Doha. Several styles of froyo have been offered – including Italian, American, and Canadian (mix-in style). They’ve even had a froyo truck. And you can find froyo at Hamad International Airport.
Popular toppings and froyo flavors include pistachio, pomegranate, Lotus, and mango.
Froyo Shops in Qatar
- Casa del Gelato opened in 2011 and closed in 2019 (?). In addition to froyo, the shop offered gelato, crepes, waffles, and Italian coffee. There were three locations, one at the Villaggio Mall, Al Ghafara, and another in Bin Mahmoud. Their last Instagram post was in 2019. The website domain expired and is available for purchase.
- Foshy Berry was a self-serve shop that opened in 2011 at The Pearl-Qatar in Doha. In addition to froyo, they carried smoothies, fruit shakes, and fruit parfaits. Customers could choose from 6 froyo flavors a day. The shop seems to have closed in 2013.
- FreshBerry was a US-based froyo chain that opened in two locations in Qatar. The counter-serve shops offered frozen yogurt, smoothies, and fresh pops (froyo pops). Aqua Park location opened in 2015 and the last post in 2015. The Pearl-Qatar shop opened in 2016 and the last post was in 2016.
- Freshii, the Canadian chain of healthy cafes that serve froyo, soups, salads, wraps, grain bowls, and juices, has three branches in Qatar. They opened in 2018 and are still open. And yes, they serve froyo at the Qatar branches.
- The Frozen Yogurt Factory, a chain that was founded in Saudi Arabia, introduced self-serve froyo to the region. They specialized in Italian froyo with 50 flavors. FYF opened in 2012 at the Pearl and Ezdan Mall. Their last Facebook post was in 2018 and the last Instagram post in 2015. Their website has been suspended. We believe they’ve closed for good.
- Golden Spoon, founded in California in 1983, opened in 2012, offering a healthier alternative to ice cream. They had at least five counter-serve locations in Qatar but it looks like they’ve all closed.
- Graze, a home-grown brand founded in 2018, currently has five locations in Qatar: The Pearl-Qatar, Palm Tower, Education City, Villagio Mall, and Sharq Plaza. Graze serves healthy grab & go meals, snacks, froyo, and coffee.
- Menchie’s, the world’s largest self-serve froyo chain, opened in Doha at The Pearl-Qatar in 2015. The Menchie’s website lists the location as “coming soon” so the original location may have closed recently. There may have been another branch at Plaza Andalucia (now closed).
- Poffy’s, a dessert concept with cookies, doughnuts, and mini pancakes, has three locations; only one, Duhail Sports Club, serves froyo. The first location opened in 2017.
- Pinkberry opened in Qatar in 2010. Today, they operate four branches in Qatar: Gulf Mall, Landmark Mall, Ezdan Mall, and Villaggio Mall.
- Red Mango at Hamad International Airport in Doha is open 24 hours, serving all-natural froyo and smoothies. The airport branch opened in 2014.
- Smoothie Factory, the international smoothie chain, has four locations in Qatar. They serve smoothies, froyo, juices, pancakes, oatmeal, waffles, crepes, and more. The first location opened in 2017. The store they opened in 2021 was made out of two shipping containers.
- Snog, a branch of the UK chain, had two locations in Doha, Qatar. The shops were at Lagoona Mall and the Villaggio Mall. Snog was counter-serve and their froyo was nonfat, organic, and sweetened with agave nectar. Snog first opened in February 2013 at Lagoona followed by the shop at Villaggio in 2014. The shops lasted until 2016.
- Sweet Treats first opened in 2017 at Dar Al Salam Mall; they added branches at the Tawar Mall in Doha and Festival City Mall as well as a mobile unit @sweettreatsqa. They served ice cream rolls, milkshakes, froyo, and candy. We’re not sure how many branches, if any, are still open. The last Instagram and Facebook post was in June 2020.
- TCBY had at least 8 branches in Qatar, including one at the Qatar International Airport in Doha. It’s unclear how many locations are still open though it seems like at least one (possibly three) is still open. They first opened in Qatar in 1994.
- Yogen Fruz mix-in style yogurt opened in 2012 at City Center-Doha Mall and closed in 2017. There was another location inside the HBKU Student Center that may have opened in 2016 and closed in 2018.
- Yogurtini, the US self-serve froyo chain, opened at Tawar Mall in Doha in 2018. They also had locations at Gulf Mall and Festival City Mall. Of the three locations, only Gulf Mall remains open.
The Atelier Art Café at the Pearl-Qatar served froyo in the past but we haven’t seen evidence that they still serve froyo. Mumbai Spices, an Indian street food cafe in Doha, serves (or served) froyo.
We created a Pinterest board, Froyo in Qatar, with pictures of froyo and froyo shops in Qatar.
